Locking slider



LOCKING. SLIDER Filed Jan. 6, 1932 E 9 a r l'zzverzzm; k jEaerf C. .le y i a fizz W 3 J Atzjs.

Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE ROBERT C. LEGAT, OF NEW. BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO (3-. E. PBENTICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT 4 LOCKING SLIDER Application flied. January 6, 1982. Serial No. 584,998.

ating slider for such fasteners and to means for retaining or looking the slider in adjusted position.

It has heretofore been proposed to providea slider with looking or retaining means actuating by a pull tab, and further to provide locking -means operative whenever the tab is in depending position (whether the .fas tener be of the kind which is closed by upward or downward movement of the slider, respectively), one such arrangement being shown in the patent to Prentice, No. 1,77 8,- 328 dated October 14, 1930. In the latter patent the pull tab is arranged for movement from end to end of the slider body to facllitate the operation of moving the slider in either direction, respectively, and the locking effect is produced by the use of a rocker member comprising afriction shoe projecting through an opening in the front wall of the slider and having resilient divergent wings for alternative engagement by the cam members of the pull tab. While this patented arrangement is useful and practical, some users of sliders prefer to have the pull tab arranged to swing about a substantia ly fixed axis, usually intermediate the ends of the slider, and in accordance with the present invention I provide locking means applicable to those sliders among others in which the pull swings about a substantially fixed axis, the improved locking means being of very efiective type and employing parts which are simple, inexpensive and easily assembled, the completed slider being durable and operating more smoothly and with less wear and danger of injury to the fastener elements than most previous devices of this general type known to me.

To this end I preferably provide a retaining or looking or check piece member which is normally free to roll along the series of fastener elements as the slider is manually operated, but which may be forced or clamped against the fastener elements when it is desired to retain the slider in position. Whether such locking member be free to roll or not, I prefer to give its inner surface, which engages the fastener elements, such conformation that it will project into the space between two of the overlapping elements and will engage both of said elements at the same time, and will comprise portions which diverge forwardly at o posite inclinations from a point substantia ly midwa between such elements. While a double inclined cam or wedge surface having flat faces may satisfactorily fulfill the last-named condition, I prefer to employ a curved surface and in the attainment of the eatest number of advantages contemplate t e provision of a locking member in the form of a cylinder or ball housed in an aperture, window or equivalent retaining means in the slider body. When, for example, a ball check iece is employed for locking or retaining t e slider in position, I find that even if excessive stress is imposed upon the slider while locked, the forces are so distributed that the fastener elements are not displaced or injured; that by reason of the rounded surface of the ball the latter rolls easily along the series of fastener elements so'as not substantially to interfere with the normal operation of the slider and without injury to the fastener elements gthat when engaged with a pair of overlapped elements its rounded surface acts substantially as a double wedge cam, preventing movement of the slider in either direction; and if in moving the ball inwardly into locking position it first engages the top of a fastener element, its curved inner surface acts as a cam to move the slider and the fastener elements relatively in a longitudinal direction until the ball can enter between a pair of over lapped elements and come to rest in its normal locking position.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one desirable embodiment of the invention by way of example, together with certain slight modifications thereof, but wish lit) a fastener device of a well known type, provided with an actuating slider embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig 1, to larger scale and turned at right angles to the section line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in unlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the slider body with the pull and pull retaining members omitted and with the upper portion broken away and partly in transverse section;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred form of pull tab;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified construction; and

Fig. 8 is a similar section showing a further modification.

In Figs 1 and 2 of the drawing T have shown a fastener of a usual type comprising the flexible tapes or stringers 1 and 2 respectively, carr ing the series of fastener elements 3 an 4 respectively on their op osed edges. As usual, the opposite series 0 fastener elements are moved into and out of engagement by means of an actuating slider 5. This slider, as is common in devices of this character, comprises substantially parallel, spaced front and rear wings 6 and 7 united at one end by the neck portion 8. Preferably the slider body comprising the wings and neck is of the general character and made in accordance with the method more specifically disclosed in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 562,518, filed September 12, 1931. In this construction the neck portion of the slider is more or less tubular and provides a very rigid and still connection between the wings so that the wings will withstand a very considerable separating stress without spreading to any appreciable extent. While this form of slider body is preferred, I wish it to be understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited to this particular construction but may be incorporated in sliders of other form.

In accordance with the referred embodiment of the present. invention the front wing 6 is provided with a window or aperture 9 extending through it from front to rear, and preferably, although not necessarily, substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the wing. The rear wing 8 is also provided with a small aperture 9.

The improved slider comprises a pull support or keeper 10, here shown by way of example as consisting of a piece of sheet material of the eneral contour shown in Figs.

-3 and 4 and aving a projecting lug or ear 11 at one end which extends through the tubular neck 8 of the slider body (Fig. 5)

and is turned down or riveted over at the.

back side of the slider body as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4b. The opposite ends of the pull-tab support 10 is furnished with a reduced portion 12 which is fitted within an opening in a lug 13 rojecting forwardly from the lower end of t e front wing 6. The member 10 is thus ri idly anchored in position, it being noted t at this member is relatively narrow transversely of the slider as shown in Fig. 1.

The support or keeper 10 bridges the window 9 and is provided with a recess or aperture 14 (Fig. 4) in its inner edge substantially opposite to the window, and in a preferred arrangement this recess is of more or less triangular contour with the apex of the triangle directed forwardly. This recess or aperture forms a bearing for the pull tab as hereinafter described.

The pull tab comprises the finger engaging portion 15 preferably having the relatively narrow extension 15, and is provided with the longitudinal slot 16. The upper end of this slot is closed by a transverse head member 17 (Fig. 6) which constitutes the pivot element of the pull tab, and this head member is extended in opopsite directions from the plane of the finger engaging portion 15 to form cam lugs 18 and 19, respectively. Preferably the lower end of the slot 16 is enlarged as at 16 to accommodate the parts 12 and 13 of the'slider when the pull tab is disposed in looking position.

A slider retaining or locking member 20 is disposed loosely in the window or aperture 9 of the wing 6, the walls of the window forming housing or retaining means operative to position the locking member longitudinally of the slider. The retaining or locking member 20 normally projects inwardly toward the series of fastener elements and outwardly into the recess 1 1. This locking member is furnished with a smoothly rounded inner surface for engagement with the fastener elements and preferably with a smoothly rounded outer surface for engageand in its preferred form consists of a ball,

for example a steel ball hearing which floats freely in the window and which presents symmetrically curved surfaces in all directlons.

The slider body and the member 10 are preferably assembled before the completion of the last step in forming the slider neck 8 and while such neck is still in a trough-like form. One end of the member 10 is first passed through the slot 16 in the pull tab; the end 12 of the member 10 is inserted in the opening in the lug 13; member 11 is disposed in the trough-like neck of the slider body; said neck is then closed in over the part 11, and the end of the latter is turned down at the back of the rear wing. The slider, thus far completed, is now assembled in usual manof other form employed.

ner with the stringers l. and 2, but before the end stops are applied, the slider is positioned at the end of the series of fastener elements and the retaining member 20 is dropped through the hole 9* in the rear wing of the slider and caused to enter the o ning 9, whereupon the slider is moved long1tudinally of the stringers andthe end stops are applied, so that the member 20 is permanently held in place.

l/V hen in use the pull tab occupies a position such, for example, as that of Fig. 4, and the ball 20 is free from pressure, so that the slider maybe moved freely along the series of fastener elements, but if the pull tab be turned down into either the full or the broken line position of Fig. 3, one of the cam elements 18 or 19 of the pull tab will bear against the ball, while the opposite cam element will bear against the apex surface of the recess 14, the being so proportioned that when the ears elements are in this position the ball will be forced inwardly through the window 9 and into engagement with the fastener elements thus urging the latter against the rear wall of the slider and looking or retaining the slider in adjusted position. Preferably, as indicated in Fig. 3 the parts are so proportioned that when the pull tab 15 has been pushed slightly inward from a plane parallel to the front face of the slider body, the ball engaging point of the cam member will have passed that plane through the center of the ball which is perpendicular to the wing of the slider, thus retaining the parts in this position until the pull is positively swung outwardly.

By using a ball as the retaining member thereis small likelihood of substantial wear being developed between the engaging surface of said member and the fastener elements, and in swinging the pull tab into engaging position the cam has a rolling action on the ball so that little, if any, wear is produced in the engaging surfaces of these parts. Moreover when the slider is moved longitudinally of the fastener elements, the

ball is free to rotate, thus develo ing less friction and interfering less with the movement of the slider than were a friction shoe In Fig. 7 l' have illustrated a slight modification in which the window 9 in the rear wing 7 of the slider is substantially larger than that shown in Fig. 2, and such window may, if desired, be square or of other suitable shape, so as to provide one or more detent surfaces 22 disposed transverse to the direction of movement of the slider along the series of fasteners and preferably perpendicular to the plane of the slider wing. The dimensions of this window 9 may be such as shown in Fi 7 as to permit a pair of fastener units 3 an 4 to be pushed bodily into this window j ected into the window by the pressure of the ball, one at least of the fastener elements is brought into direct engagement with the detent surface 22, thus forming a positive lock against movement of the slider. The opposite edge of the window 9' similarly cooperates with the other fastener element of the pair when it is attempted to move the slider in the opposite direction. As soon as the pressure on the ball 20 is relaxed, the fastener units 3 and r are free to resume their normal alignment with the other units oil the series so that the slider is free to move along without interference.

in Fig. 8 l have shown a further modifica tion in which the rear wing 7 is provided op posite the window 9 of the front wing with a pro ection 7 preferably smoothly rounded and such for example as may be produced by indenting the rear wing from the back side. With this arrangement the action of the ball 20 is such as to press a pair of fastener elements 3* and t against the rear wall 7 of the slider body with one of such elements disposed at either side of the projection 7 This projection which thus enters between the fastener elements at the rear side, together with the ball 20 which enters between them at the forward side, likewise forms a positive loch against movement of the slider in either direction. However, by reason of the smooth surfaces of the projection i the movement of the slider is not substantially interfered with when pressure on the ball 20 is relaxed, it being noted that the slider wings are spaced sufliciently in Fig. 8 to permit free movement of the "fastener elements when not pressed against the part 7*.

While l have here illustrated certain desirable embodiments of the invention by way of example, I wish it to be understood that various changes in size, proportion and arrangements of parts may be made; that any desired materials may be employed; and that equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of inter.- engageable fastener elements, said slider having guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, and slider retaining means comprising a ball mounted in the slider, and means for forcing the ball against the fastener elements.

2. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, the slider having means for housing a look ing ball, a ball disposed in said housin means by theactionof the ball20. Whenthuspro and normallyfree-to turn therein, an means MED wi l

for pressing the ball against the fastener elements.

3. A slider for use with se arable fasteners of the kind having oppose series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and com rising spaced front and rear wings united y a neck, a slider retaining ball, means carried by the slider for positioning the ball longitudinall of the slider, and means for pressing the all into the space between adjacent overlapping fastener elements.

4. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united bv a neck, and slider retaining means including a ball engageable with the fastener elements the slider comprising parts constructed and arranged to retain the ball and to limit its movement longitudinally of the slider.

5. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, one wing of the slider having a window therein for the reception of a locking member, a locking member disposed loosely in said window, a bridge member fixed to the slider and bridging the window, said bridge member having a recess opposite the window permitting the locking member to move toward and from overlapping elements of the opposed series, said locking member presenting an inner surface so formed and positioned as to enter between and simultaneously to engage two overlapping fastenerelements, and a pressure applying member turning in said recess and operative to press the locking member into contact with said overlapping elements, the Walls of the recess being constructed and arranged to prevent movement of said pressure applying member longitudinally of the slider.

6. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guidechannels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, slider retaining means carried by the slider comprising a retaining member formed and arranged to roll freely alongthe series of fastener elements during manual actuation of the slider, and means, mounted on the slider, operative to move said retaining member into holding relation to the fastener elements.

7 A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, and slider retaining means comprising a part mounted on the slider and so constructed and arranged as to permit it to rotate, said part being of symmetrical contour and bodily movable toward and from the fastener elements, means for housing said rotating part in the slider body, and means for pressing said rotating part into engagement with the fastener elements.

8. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of in terengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, said slidev comprising a retaining member movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front wing and engageable with the fastener elements, a support fixed to the slider, means comprising a part, pivotally mounted in said support, 0perative to move said retaining member toward the fastener elements to place it in slider retaining position, said retaining member being so shaped as to constitute, in efi'ect, a double wedge operative, if moved toward slider retaining position when directly opposite a single fastener element, to act as a cam to cause relative movement of the slider and said fastener element, such as to permit the retaining member to enter bet-ween adjacent overlapping fastener elements.

9. "A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of inter engageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, the front wing having an aperture, a pull retaining member mounted on the slider, a pull tab connected to the retaining member, a locking element consisting of a ball disposed loosely in said aperture in the front wing, and means actuated by the pull tab and engageable with the ball for moving the latter into locking engagement with the fastener elements.

10. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having 0 posed series of, interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, the front wing having an aperture, a pull retaming member mounted on the slider, a pull tab pivotally connected to the retaining memher, a locking member consisting of a ball disposed loosely in said a erture in the front wing, and a cam carrie by the pull tab and till) engageable with the ball to force the latter into locking engagement with the fastener elements with which the slider is associated.

11. A. slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, the front Wing having an aperture therethrough, a ball disposed in said aperture and operative to engage fastener elements with which the slider is associated, a pull tab having a cam operative in a certain position of the ull tab to force the ball against the fastener elements, and means on the slider for retaining the cam member of the pull tab in a position such as to prevent escape of the ball from the opening.

12. A slider for use with so arable fasteners of the kind having oppose series of intel'engageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neclr, the front wing having a window therethrough, a locking element loosely disposed in said window, said element being or circular section in a longitudinal plane of the slider perpendicular to the front wing, a pull tab having means engageable with said locking element to force the latter against fastener elements with which the slider is associated, said pull tab bein so disposed as to prevent escape of the loo ing element from the window, and a pivotal support for the pull tab fixed to the slider.

13. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having guide channels for the reception of the I opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united bya :neck, one wing having a window therein,.a lochn member disposed in said window, said locking member having a smoothly curved inner surface for engagement with the fastener elements with which the slider is associated, the looking member also having a smoothly rounded outer surface, a pull tab having a cam engageable with said outer surface pfthe looking member for pressing the locking member against the fastener elements, and means on the slider for supporting the pull tab.

14. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception' of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, one wing having a window there n, a pull retaining member mounted on the slider, said retaining member bridging said window and having a transverse recess opposite the window, the pull tab having a slot for accommodating the pull retaining member and having a head journaled in said recess, said head comprising a cam, and a ball disposed in said window and engageable by the cam or the pull tab.

15. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider havi tab having an elongate slot arranged to receive the retaining member and having a head at the end of the slot which turns as a pivot in the recess, and a. ball loosely fitting in said window, said head having oppositely projecting cam members operative alternatively to engage the ball and to force the latter against the fastener elements.

16. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels forthe reception of the opposed series of fastener elements' and comprisingspaced front and rear wings united by a neck, the front wing hav-' ing a window therein, a ball in said window, a pull retaining member extending lengthwise of the front wing, said member being narrow transversely, means anchoring said retaining member at one end to the neck of the slider and at its other end to the free end of the front wing, said retaining member having a substantially triangular recess in its inner edge opposite to the window, a pull tab having an elongate slot for the accommodation of the retaining member, anda portion at the end of theslot arranged to turn as a pivot in said recess, said pivot portion being of T-shape and comprising cam elements projecting from opposite sides adapted concomitantly to engage the ball and the inner surface of the recess respectively, whereby to force the ball against the fastener elements.

17. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception ofthe opposed series and compris ing spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, detent means carried by the rear wing,

a pull-tab support mounted on the slider, a pull-tab connected to the pull-tab support and means actuated by the pull tab for forcing a fastener element of the series into 'engagement with said detent means.

18. A slider for use with separable fastenlid) ers of the ln'nd having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series and com meing spaced front and rear win s unlted y a neck, the rear wing having a etent surface substantially perpendicular to the length of the slider, a pull-tab support mounted on the slider, a pull-tab connected to the pull-tab support, and means actuated by the tab for causing a fastener element of the series to engage said detent surface whereby to prevent movement of the slider longitudinally of the series of fastener elements.

19. A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for thereception of the opposed series and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, the rear wing having an opening therethrough provided with a stop shoulder extending transversely of the length of the slider, a pressure applying member mounted in the slider and engageable with the front faces of the fastener elements at a point substantially opposite said stop shoulder, and means on the slider for forcing said pressure applying member against the fastener elements whereby to cause one at least of said elements to engage said stop shoulder thereby positively to prevent movement of the slider longitudinally of the series of fastener elements.

20. 'A slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having guide channels for the reception of the opposed series of fastener elements and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, a pull retaining member projecting forwardly of the front wing, said retaining member having a transverse aperture constituting a bearing opening, a pull tab having an elongate slot for the accommodation of the retaining member, and a head portion at one end of the slot arranged to turn as a pivot in said aperture, said pivot portion being of T-shape in vertical section and comprising cam elements projecting from opposite sides and slider retaining means engageable alternatively by said cam elements when the pull is disposed at either of two positions substantially 180 apart respectively, the slot in the pull tab being of such shape as to permit the tab to be swung about the axis of said bearing opening {hrough an angle of approximately 180 at east.

21. In a slide fastener, cooperating series of multiple interlocking fastener elements, a channeled slider movable over said elements for engaging and disengaging the same, means on the slider providmg a recess communicating with the channel of said slider, a ball check "piece mounted in said slider, and an actuating element bearing against said ball check piece for holding the latter in a position such that it projects into the slider channel for engagement with the fastener elements to provide resistance to movement of the slider.

22. In a slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener. elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series of fastener elements and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, in combination, a pull keeper extendin lengthwise of the front wing, said keeper loeing narrow transversely, means anchoring said keeper at one end to the neck-of the slider and at its other end to the free end of the front wing, said keeper having a substantially triangular recess in its inner edge, the greatest dimension of said recess being substantially parallel to the front wing, a pull tab having an elongate slot for the accommodation of the keeper, and a portion at the .end of the slot arranged to turn as a pivot in said recess, the recess being of such size that its walls constrain the pivot portion of the pull tab, in turning, to turn about an axis which is transverse of the slider and which is substantially fixed relatively to the length of the slider, said pivot portion being of T-shape and comprising cam elements projecting from opposite sides, one of said cam elements engaging the inner surface of the recess at the point most remote from the front wing when the finger engaging portion of the pull tab is disposed substantially parallel to the front win thereby causing the other cam element to he nearer to the fastener elements than when the finger engaging portion of the tab is substantially perpendicular to the front wing.

, 23. In a slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series of elements and comprising spaced front and rear wings united by a neck, in combination, a pull keeper projecting forwardly of the front wing, said keeper having a non-circular bearing therein, the longer dimension of said bearing being substantially parallel to the front wing, and a pull tab having an elongate head portion and a finger engaging portion, the head portion comprising lugs projecting forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, from the planes of the front and rear faces of the finger engaging portion, the head portion being arranged to turn as a pivot in said bearing, the bearing being of such size that its walls constrain the pivot portion of the tab, in turning, to turn about an axis which is transverse of the slider and which is substantially fixed relatively'to the length of the slider, said bearing and the head of the pull tab being so shaped and dimensioned that when the finger engaging portion of the-pull tab is arranged substantially parallel to the front wing one lug of the head pprtion will engage the inner surface of the aring at the point most remote from the front wing, thereby causing the other lugv of the head portion to lie nearer to the. fastener elements than it may be when the finger engaging portion of the pull tabis substantially perpendicular to the front wing.

24. In a slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of. interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed seriesof elements and comprising spaced front and rear wings unitedby a neck, in combination, a pull keeper projecting forwardly of the front wing, said keeper having a bearing therein, a pull tab having a non-circular head portion and a finger-engaging portion, the head portion being arranged to turn as a pivot in said bearing, the bearing being of such size that its walls constrain the pivot portion of the tab, in turning, to turn about an axis which is transverse of the slider and which is substantially fixed relatively to the length of the slider, said bearing bein substantially triangular with its base su stantially parallel to the front wing and with one apex directed forwardly, the length of the base of said recess exceeding the altitudeof the recess, the head of the pull tab having parts pro ecting at opposite sides of the finer engaging portion and so shaped and imensioned relatively to the bearing that when the finger engaging portion of the pull tab is disposed substantially parallel to'the front wing one of the projecting arts of the head will engage the inner sur ace of the bearing adjacent to the apex of the latter thereby causing the other projecting portion of the head to be positioned nearer to the fastener elements t an it may be when the fastener engaging portion of the pull tab is substantially perpendicular to the front win 25 In a slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interenga cable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the opposed series of'elements and comprising s aced front and rear wings united by a nec in combination, a pull keeper projecting forwardly of the front wing, said keeper having a bearing therein, and a pull tab having a head portion and a finger engaging portion, the head portion being arranged to turn as a pivot m said bearing, the bearing being of such size that its walls constrain the head portion of the tab, when the tab is turned, to turn about an axiswhich is transverse of the slider and which is substantially fixed relatively to the length of the slider, said bearing being substantially triangular with its base parallel to the front wing and one apex directed forwardly, the length of the base of said recess exceeding the altitude of the recess, the head of the pull tab being formed as a cross-bar at one end of the finger engaging portion, the head of the pull tab being extended in opposite directions to form lugs projecting forwardly and rearwardly respectively, from the planes of the front and rear faces of the finger engaging portion, the free outer ends of said lugs being so spaced that when the finger engaging portion of the pull tab is disposed substantially parallel to the base of the triangular bearing, the free outer end of one lug will engage the inner surface of the bearing adjacent to said apex of the latter, thereby causing the free outer end of the other lug to be positioned inwardly nearer to the fastener elements than when the finger engaging portion of the pull tab is substantially perpendicular to the base the triangular bearing.

26. In a slider for use with separable fasteners of the kind having opposed series of interengageable fastener elements, said slider having convergent guide channels for the reception of the o posed series of elements and comprising ront and rear wings united by a neck, in combination, a pull keeper projecting forwardly of the front wing, said keeper having a non-circular bearing therein, the longer dimension of said bearing being substantially parallel to the front wing, and a pull tab having a non-circular head portion and a finger engaging portion, the head portion being arranged to turn as avpivot in said bearing, the bearing being of such size that its walls constrain the head portion of, the tab, in turning, to

turn about an axis which is transverse of the slider and which is substantially fixed relatively to the length of the slider, the pull tab being substantially T-shaped in vertical cross-section with the upright of the T forming the finger engaging portion while the ends of the crossbar of the -T constitute cams projecting from opposite sides of the upri ht, the shape and dimensions of the cross ar of the T and of the bearing being such that when the upright of the T is moved substantially parallel to the front wing, one of said cams will engage the inner surface of the bearing at the point most remote from the front wing, thereby causing the other cam element to lie nearer to the fastener, elements than when the finger engaging portion of the pull tab is substantially perpendicular to the front win I ROB RT C. LEGAT. 

